Economic Hitmen

Tuesday, December 31, 2013

We are so grateful for your ongoing support and look forward to working with you in 2014. For those not on our postal mailing list, or in case you'd like to share it with others around the country (or world!), you can view --and read-- our Annual Review for 2013 and earlier years at http://prcsd.org/resources/prc-reports.html

Also, we were told that the local Paul Chappell "peace leadership" workshop STILL has a few spots! It's next week, but perhaps you can join?

Everyone who has participated in one of those courses has raved about it. General info is pasted below and a description of the curriculum is attached. Also, partial scholarships are available for those with limited financial resources.

Paul K. Chappell served as a Captain in the U.S. Army and served in Iraq. Upon leaving the Army, he devoted his time to teaching and writing about peace. He is the author of the Road to Peace series, a seven-book series about waing peace, ending war, the art of living, and what it means to be human. He currently serves as the Peace Leadership Director for the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation in Santa Barbara, California.

"Captain Paul K. Chappell has given us a crucial look at war and peace from the perspective of a soldier, and his new ideas show us why world peace is both necessary and possible in the 21st century." –Archbishop Desmond Tutu

"Paul Chappell is doing something that no one else has done in my lifetime. He has created a system from many philosophies, just as Gandhi did in his time that anyone, no matter what their political beliefs or attitudes, can easily adopt." -Linda Richards, activist, lecturer at Oregon State University

Cancellation Policy: No refunds will be issued after December 22, 2013

The class will meet from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. in Mother Rosalie Hall, Room 211, which is directly across from the Institute for Peace and Justice. The West entrance is the best way to reach this area of campus. A printable map of campus is available at www.sandiego.edu/maps/pdf_print.php.

Parking is available on campus. Please email Mariko Peshon at marikopeshon@sandiego.edu if you will need a parking permit. More information will be provided on picking up permits once the final count is received. Wi-Fi is available for guests on campus and we'll provide you with information on how to logon when you're on campus.

Monday, December 30, 2013

Tijuana Maquiladora TourCome to learn about Tijuana communities and workers' conditions and struggles!

Wednesday, Jan 08, 2014

9 am to 3 pm

Important Notice:

Citizens returning from Mexico should present an U.S. passport. (Otherwise, they need an official ID, birth certificate, and waiting in line when returning to the U.S. for a period of time to be decided by the border gate officer.) More information: the U.S. State Dept. web site: US Citizens - Documents needed for entry into the U.S..

· All tour participants must read the US travel alert to Mexico and sign the tour waiver. Please click here to get the Tour waiver.

Schedule (There may be slight variations from tour to tour.)

· 9:00 am sharp- San Ysidro. Additional information about the meeting place will be provided.

· 9:15 am- The crosses at the border: More than 7,000 immigrants have died trying to cross the border since 1994, when NAFTA was imposed.

· 9:30 am- Otay Industrial Park, Sanyo and other maquiladoras: workers' labor conditions, labor rights and struggles NOTE: We will visit the Tijuana industrial area but won't enter any factory.

Friday, December 27, 2013

The Citizens Commission on Human
Rights of Florida is a non-profit organization that investigates and
exposes psychiatric violations of human rights.

CCHR Florida also educates Americans about their mental health rights, including the right to informed consent.

CCHR
Florida works side-by-side with like-minded groups and individuals who
share a common purpose to stop abuses in the field of mental health.
Many non-profit organizations and individuals are concerned about the
excesses and harmful practices of psychiatry.

Together, we have formed a strong movement that is especially active to help protect the rights of children.

We invite you to join our efforts to bring compassion and decency to the field of mental health.

Laurie Anspach

Director, CCHR Florida

Laurie
Anspach is very active within her non profit, putting in long hours and
even working most weekends. She is a treasure. Along with me, Walter
Davis and the Citizens Internet Radio Network, we have coordinated a
series of informative Radio Interviews that focus on the plight of
veterans and their families.

The Citizens Internet Radio Network

Founded
by Walter Davis to give everyday citizens a worldwide audience. Focused
on Social Justice, Human Rights and the Environment.

Walter Davis

Author, Producer, Writer, Director, Host

Walter is a retired Navy Senior Chief who worked for 25
years as a navigator, missile engagement officer at sea and chemical
dependency treatment specialist ashore. He served in six warships in
eleven deployments in all of the Navy's active fleets. He has produced
12 cable television shows and is a pioneer in Internet TV and Radio
broadcasts. He is a columnist, director, published author, publisher and
founder of the Citizens Internet TV and Radio Network (CITN). He is
also president of Media Communications Association International, Los
Angeles and Orange County Chapter.

Walter Davis and Laurie Anspach, Director of Citizens Commission on
Human Rights Florida explore diffcult issues facing military members and
their families.

The U.S. Pentagon now spends $2billion a year on mental health alone
and the Veterans Administration’s mental health budget has soared from
less than $3billion in 2007 to nearly $7 billion in 2014. What most
people don’t know is that the money spent on mental health is generating
one of the military’s toughest enemies. Our soldiers, our heroes, are
being put in one of the most dangerous battles of their lives, all for
profit. Learn the details of what is taking our young men from us and
what we can do to protect their rights!

Dr. Fred Baughman, neurologist and Stan White will open your eyes to
what most of our world has not event considered. Dr. Baughman, a
seasoned physician, who has discovered and described medical diseases,
read the May 24, 2008, Charleston Gazette article "Vets taking Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder drugs die in sleep," and opened and financed
his own investigation into these unexplained deaths.

Andrew White, Eric
Layne, Nicholas Endicott and Derek Johnson, all in their twenties, were
four West Virginia veterans who died in their sleep in early 2008. There
were no signs of suicide or of a multi-drug "overdose" leading to coma,
as claimed by the Inspector General of the VA. All had been diagnosed
"PTSD"--a psychological diagnosis, not a disease (physical abnormality)
of the brain. All were on the same prescribed drug cocktail, Seroquel
(antipsychotic), Paxil (antidepressant) and Klonopin (benzodiazepine)
and all appeared "normal" when they went to sleep.

Learn about Dr.
Baughman’s investigation and learn what you can do to prevent more of
these senseless deaths.

Soldiers Who Arrive Home and
End Up Behind Bars----Steve Talmadge (attorney), Walter Davis and
Laurie, Director of Citizens Commission on Human Rights Florida

Sat. Jan. 11 5PM Eastern 2 PM Pacific

“You may be surprised to find out that many of our soldiers are
arriving home only to end up behind bars in psychiatric wards. At one
time, a young man wasn’t able to enter the military if he was taking
psychiatric medication. Now, that’s all changed!

Soldiers are being
placed on mind-altering drugs that cause hallucinations, delusions,
psychosis, mania, suicidal and homicidal thoughts among many other
horrendous effects.

They arrive home, with their prescriptions and when
they don’t fair so well in civilian life, are committed for a 72 hour
hold. The vicious circle is wrapped tightly with a bow and only those
who are fully informed of the facts can right these wrongs.” (Director
of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights of Florida)

You will get a chance to hear from the Director of this very active
non-profit, as well as Attorney, Stephen Talmadge, on this subject.

(Dr. Stephen Alfred Talmadge, Jr. was awarded a Ph.D. in psychology
in 1989, after which he served as a licensed clinical psychologist
during his 20 year career in the Navy. In 1997, he became a Diplomate
in Forensic Psychology, performing evaluations and testifying in
military proceedings for all services, worldwide. After retiring from
the Navy, Steve graduated from law school. Prior to his current
position, he was employed by a public defender as a law clerk, working
on cases that involved involuntary commitment (Baker Acts). Steve is
very knowledgeable about Baker Act law and administrative rules. He has
assisted people in many states who were Baker Acted in Florida. Steve is
published in psychological and legal journals.)

We explore the hope and possible solutions for military families.
Barry Skywalker advocate for human rights, has a special interest in
educating families of the military on their rights in terms of declining
the psychiatric meds and the benefit of getting fully informed on the
facts regarding mental health. He is joined by Director of the Citizens
Commission on Human Rights of Florida, Laurie Anspach. These two
advocates are dedicated to protecting the rights of our heroes, our
soldiers, and their families.

As many of you know, I wrote a book with John Kuek about Sudan a little over a year ago. I have a fondness for this community and want to help in any way that I can. I am planning a series of Internet Radio shows with John to keep the public informed. Please support where you can and forward information as you get it. This is a recent message from Nonviolent Peacforce South Sudan of which I am also a member.

Your awareness and focus are greatly appreciated.

With Respect,

Walter Davis760-917-1251

The wise man does immediately what the fool finally gets around to. Even if you are on the right track, you will be run over if you just stand there.My Main Site:http://www.WalterDavisEnterprises.com

I just received this message from NP USA concerning the situation in South Sudan and wanted to share it with you. Please read the letter from Tiffany Easthom, NP's Country Director in South Sudan, that you'll see after the greeting from Gilda Bettencourt.

Peace,

Debby

NP San Diego

Season's Greetings Friends from USNPCA!

I hope this message finds you and your loved ones well.

Tiffany Easthom, NP's Country Director in South Sudan, has asked me to share the message below with you as a way to update our long-time supporters on what is going on with NP's work in that country.

Since she mentions NP's child protection work, I am also including a short 2 minute video that will give you a quick look at this work. It is at Yida, South Sudan - a place that now hosts a 100,000 people near the border of Sudan and is considered one of the most challenging refugee camps by the UNHRC.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7LqmKDfFpo

The situation is volatile throughout the country with intense fighting in some areas and relative calm in others. While we work to keep the peace, we are deeply aware that many indicators are moving towards civil war and the focus of our work now is to protect civilians affected by the violence and to focus on violence prevention in displacement camps.

James Pio, who has been one of our peacekeeper since our beginning here, was caught in cross fire and received bullet wounds in the thigh and back last week in Pibor town as he helped protect a neutral space. He is recovering well and is now home with his family in Western Equatoria.

As it is the holiday season, many of our peacekeepers are on their regularly scheduled holiday at home with their families, a blessing for their safety and security. We have maintained a small group of peacekeepers in-country and have brought everyone into Juba where they can enjoy maximum safety while consolidating our resources to be able to provide the most effective programming possible in the IDP camps in Juba.

I want you to know that while we continue to work, we take our peacekeeper's security very seriously. We will not take unnecessary risks. We are not able to protect others if we cannot protect ourselves. Everyday we assess and re-assess the situation and revise our decisions about movement and programming as is appropriate.

During this time of chaotic turmoil we are focusing on three activities:

1. Protecting children in Juba who make up half of the displaced people.

2. Monitoring and verifying rumors. Good information is critical at times like this.

3. Assessing the needs and helping to design an overall humanitarian response.

Crises like these are easier to comprehend when they can be distilled to personal connections. Yet, I want to emphasize that tens of thousands of innocent civilians are at grave risk as I write. While the media often focuses on the safety and security of international aid workers, the real story is in the faces of the people of South Sudan who are bearing the brunt of this fight.

It is important to state that this is a political conflict over power and money between a few elites who are exploiting old fault lines to further their own greed. This is not simply a tribal conflict. Most South Sudanese live together in an emerging peace when left to their own. Many are yet to see themselves as part of a unified country.

So what can you do:

1. Keep not only NP's peacekeepers in your thoughts and prayers but all of the people of South Sudan.

2. Write, call or e-mail your Congressional Representatives and Senators urging them to support a diplomatic solution. Tell them to support unarmed civilian peacekeeping like numerous other governments. This conflict will not be solved militarily.

3. Continue to support NP as we develop and implement our emergency response.

4. As the first wave of the emergency settles down, the story will start to fade from the media. Please continue to keep yourself informed, pay attention and keep the safety and security of the South Sudanese as a primary goal.

We are committed to stay and work with our brave partners on the ground. We are part of keeping and building the peace over the long haul. After doing nonviolent peacekeeping for over a decade, I know that we are building in the right direction. Despite horrible set backs, we are working towards an inevitable nonviolent future.

Save 50% on various educational videos from Marketing Strategies when you purchase Poly-MVA. This coupon must be printed and presented to Poly-MVA at the time of purchase or emailed to info@polymva.com. Forward this email to others and you will receive an additional 10% off the videos.
Simply include WDavis@WalterDavisEnterprises.com in the CC: Line.
This offer is fully transferrable

It is with great sadness that I write to let you know that one of our peace, and social justice community members, Lyle "Rocky" Neptun was murdered in his home in Tijuana on December 7th. I am told that there is a suspect in custody.

A funeral Mass was held this morning, but there was not time to get the word out as most of us only learned about this yesterday. Friends of Rocky's in the community are discussing holding a Celebration of Life in January. We will let you know the details when the plans are firm.

Rocky was involved throughout the years with a number of organizations and causes, including the San Diego Quaker Meeting, Peace Resource Center, the Housing Coalition, Activist San Diego, the Green Party, homeless issues, gay rights issues and more. He was also a journalist/writer with strong opinions on these issues. This is truly a loss to his family and friends, as well as our community. Even if you did not personally know Rocky, he was out there fighting for you and your rights.

The violent death of a friend and comrade is particularly difficult to comprehend, but it does call to us to renew our efforts for a peaceful, nonviolent and just world which is what Rocky wanted and for which he worked and dedicated his life.

His ashes will be spread in the ocean of his beloved Rosarito Beach. He asked that who wished to donate in his memory do so to the Humane Society or to perform one hour of community service.

Co-sponsored or Endorsed by UCSD & SDSU Students for Justice in Palestine, KARAMA, Alternate Focus and

The San Diego Peace Resource Center

Palestinian refugees have become the forgotten survivors of the world. Their experiences in exile have been deliberately ignored and their voices repeatedly silenced over the course of a forced and ongoing odyssey that started over 65 years ago. The majority of the refugees exist, unseen and unheard, in the margins of marginalized communities.

Portraits of Denial & Desire, is a multi-disciplinary art project that preserves and presents the stories of three generations of indigenous Palestinians who were displaced from their homeland in an ongoing cultural genocide that began 65 years ago.

The project highlights complex and compelling individuals whose personal stories address massive and ongoing human rights violations, cycles of violent political manipulations, patterns of self-defeating strategies, as well as inspiring narratives of resilience and resistance. Those experiences, along with many others, represent the dynamic tensions between the oppressive political denial and the liberating personal desires that have defined the lives of Palestinian refugees since the beginning of their expulsion in 1948. The recorded narratives, photographs, drawings and documentary film being produced for the project, highlight the seldom-heard stories of generations of Palestinian refugees and uncover parts of their experiences in the aftermath of displacement.

John Halaka is a visual artist, documentary filmmaker and professor of Visual Arts at the University of San Diego. Drawings from his series Landscapes of Desire are currently on view in a solo exhibit at the Arab-American National Museum, in Dearborn Michigan, through January 2014. His work can be viewed at the following websites: http://www.johnhalaka.com, and http://www.sittingcrowproductions.com.

Over the past several years Taxi Workers have come together to address poverty wages, unsafe working conditions, and retaliation. This week, the Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) will decide whether or not to enter into negotiations with the City of San Diego for a long-term contract. Taxi Workers are asking MTS to allow additional time for a city-approved consultant to explore how the City may resume administration of the taxi industry and oversee working conditions and wages BEFORE they enter into negotiations. Join Taxi Workers as we ask the MTS to vote NO on negotiating a long-term contract.

The Brady Campaign works to pass and enforce sensible federal, state and local gun laws, regulations and public policies through grassroots activism, electing public officials who support common sense gun laws. Through our Million Mom March and Brady Chapters, we work locally to educate the public about the dangers of guns and to honor the victims of gun violence. We believe that all Americans, especially children, have the right to live free from the threat of gun violence.

Dear Friends of the Brady Campaign,

Please join us and OFA for a peaceful rally in memory of Sandy Hook. When: Saturday, December 14 at 2:00 Where: Westfield North County Mall - meet at Macaroni Grill Click here to sign up and for directions.